ll of the air appeared to indicate that it came from the snowy
peaks of the Coast Range. Fully an hour was taken in gathering wood,
sticks, broken limbs and branches, for they had concluded to keep it
burning until morning.

The fire was kindled against the trunk of a giant sycamore, and as the
flames waved up the shaggy bark the reflection upon the outstretched
limbs and neighboring trees gave them a weird appearance that made the
boys gather close to the somber-hued Pah Utah as though conscious of his
ability to stand between them and evil.

Tim and Shasta were leisurely smoking their pipes, and Howard and Elwood
were conversing together in low tones of their homes and friends, when a
quick bark from Terror, as he rose to his feet and looked in the
darkness, drew all eyes in one direction. A score of flashing eyes,
gleaming teeth, lank, restless bodies and greedy jaws announced, that a
new danger threatened them.

CHAPTER XXX.

THE WOLVERINES.

The Pah Utah was the only member of the party that did not manifest any
alarm or excitement. Carelessly removing his pipe from his mouth, he
turned his head, looked at the animals a moment, and then resumed
smoking, without giving utterance to a single sound or changing his
posture in the least.

Tim O'Rooney, with an ejaculated prayer, caught up his rifle, and
turning his back toward the fire, stood like a person driven at bay and
waiting to decide in his mind the best way to strike his last blow. In
his haste and alarm his pipe fell from his mouth and lay unheeded at his
feet. Shasta quietly picked it up, handed it to him, and motioned for
him to seat himself upon the ground again. Tim stared alternately at the
animals, the Indian and his pipe, and finally gathered the idea that no
imminent danger threatened them.

Howard and Elwood also held their rifles ready for it charge from the
growling wolverines, for such they were, while the Newfoundland growled
in turn, and glared defiantly at them. The intelligent brute appeared to
comprehend that it would not do for him to sally out and charge upon the
enemy's works, but he stood ready to fight and die in the defense of his
friends.

"Why don't they attack us?" asked Elwood, seeing that they didn't
advance nearer than a dozen feet.

"Don't you know that wild animals are afraid of fire? That is what
restrains them."

"Of course! I didn't think of that. How fortunate that we gathered
enough wood to last!"

"J